Former White Sox reliever Bobby Jenks has his sights set on a return to baseball, reports MLB.com's Scott Merkin. As Merkin chronicles, mutually compounding difficulties with injury and addiction saw the once-feared closer wash out of baseball after an ill-fated season with the Red Sox in 2011. Still just shy of 33 years of age, Jenks says that he is mentally prepared to try and work his way back to the hill.
Here are some notes from the American League to round out the evening:
- Though reports from Japan have tabbed the Angels as one of the favorites to land Masahiro Tanaka, GM Jerry Dipoto confirmed today that his club was not among the teams that met with the Japanese sensation last week in Los Angeles, reports Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. "We did not meet with Tanaka," said Dipoto. "We were not scheduled to meet with him." The GM otherwise declined to comment, but DiGiovanna offers on Twitter that the lack of a face-to-face could indicate that the Halos "won't break [the] bank" for Tanaka.
- For the Yankees, signing Tanaka could be the key to making the team a serious post-season contender, opines MLB.com's Richard Justice. Though another arm could be added if Tanaka goes elsewhere, Justice notes that the club has shown little interest in other top starters like Ervin Santana and Matt Garza.
- While the suspension of Alex Rodriguez will unquestionably benefit the Yanks' bottom line, writes Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com, it nevertheless leaves the club with major questions in the infield. With injury and aging concerns around the diamond, accompanied by seemingly limited upside, Castrovince says that the infield is a close second to starting pitching in terms of need. Though chatter of a Brandon Phillips deal has faded, Castrovince writes that a swap of some kind still "makes a ton of sense" for both the Yankees and Reds.
- Catcher Matt Wieters has long been rumored as an extension candidate for the Orioles, as the 27-year-old is entering his second-to-last arb-eligible campaign. From the player's perspective, however, the urgency of a new deal is seemingly fading, according to a report from Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). "It's not a big worry for me," said Wieters. "I think in years past it's taken a little more of my thoughts than this year." With a $5.5MM arbitration payday already in his pocket, and a projected $7.9MM on the way for 2014, it is certainly understandable that Wieters is increasingly comfortable with waiting to hit the open market.
The Yankees had “major questions” in the infield before ARod was suspended. In fact, probably more so then than now
Which is why they signed some depth and will probably see how it goes in ST. They don’t need an AS or great hitter at every position you know. Not to mention the Offseason is not over for weeks.
I think what is concerning about the Yankees infield is that they could possibly be below average at second, short and 3rd.
True but they already have an excellent C, a good 1B (If Tex is healthy), one of the best overall OF in baseball, and if they sign Tanaka they could have a good rotation. As mentioned, you don’t need to have a great player at every position. I’ll take 5 well above average hitters (McCann, Tex, Beltran, Gardner and Ellsbury) along with a power hitting DH (Soriano) if it had to net me a below average 2B and 3B
Jeter is a toss up at this point. He could be 2012 Jeter and get a ton of hits. He could be 2013 Jeter and get hurt.
As I said, the offseason is not over for weeks.
I say Tanaka wants to become a Yank. BUT, if true the wife wants LA, he goes to LA; wife usually controls. If not true, he is already a Yank. Just IMO
People are still trying to put Phillips on the Yankees roster, but I don’t know if I want Phillips more than Gardner. I really like the idea of having two dynamic basestealers in the lineup with solid outfield defense between he and Ells.
If we do move Gardner, I hope it’s for a solid pitcher if one is available, otherwise keep him. But why wouldn’t the Angels meet with Tanaka if they’re serious suitors? Seems kind of weird, unless they felt a meeting wasn’t necessary. The whole dynamic just gets weirder and weirder.
Agreed, I just want to start the season with both Ellsbury and Gardner back-to-back in the Yankees lineup and covering CF and LF.
I agree. If you’re going to struggle with infield defense, at least make the OF a place where fly balls go to die.
Not to mention that if they trade Gardner that puts Soriano and Beltran most likely out there on a regular basis, or if they go with Ichiro, is Ichiro + Phillips really better than Johnson + Gardner.
I don’t know if it will make any difference but I would have to think MLB would like Tanaka to sign anywhere but with the Yankees. The outcry over the salary relief from A-Rod’s suspension allowing New York to get Tanaka would be a headache for Selig and force the issue of suspended player salaries onto the front burner. I doubt the union would look kindly on any deal that would make the salaries of suspended players count against the cap as it would restrict spending.
Okay Angel fans, prepare yourselves emotionally for another less than mediocre year.
The Yankees should strongly consider trying to get below $189M this year, and if that means leaving Tanaka out, then they should. At this point, they are at best a fringe contender and I don’t see how adding him suddenly makes them into a 95 win team. And, next year, A-Rod is back on the books. Now is the time. Get below the level, and if spending is your thing, do it next off-season.
Yeah Arte doesn’t need to meet with players… He just calls them and says, “Here, take my money!”
Maybe the Japanese media got LAA and LAD mixed up, If the Angels were going to get into a serious bidding war for Tanaka they would have met with him first.
According to the report, the front runners are Yankees, Dodgers, and Angels, and probably in that order too.
Surprise, surprise, a Boras client (Weiters) wants to test the market. Could have forecasted that when Weiters signed with the Orioles in the first place.